Published May, 2001
Potassium Placement and Tillage System Effects on Corn Response
following Long-Term No Till
Tony J. Vyn* and Ken J. Janovicek
ABSTRACT
Stratification of immobile nutrients in long term no-till (NT) fields
may reduce corn (Zea mays L.) yield potential. Five field studies were
conducted from 1995 to 1998 to evaluate corn response to different K
placements and rates when fields with a NT cropping history were
either fall zone-tilled (ZT), fall moldboard-plowed [conventional till-
age (CT)], or continued in the NT system. The silt loam to silty clay
loam soils had medium or high soil-test K (0–15 cm) ratings with
varying degrees of K stratification to the 30-cm depth. Fall-applied
K at rates of 0, 42 and 84 kg ha⫺1 was surface-broadcast in the NT
system, deep-banded to 15-cm depth in the ZT system, and surface-
broadcast and incorporated in the CT system. Potassium was also
shallow-banded with the planter at rates of either 0 to 8 kg ha⫺1 (low)
or 42 to 50 kg ha⫺1 (high). Average concentrations of corn ear-leaf
K near silking increased from 10.9 g kg⫺1 with no K to 15.2 g kg⫺1
with highest fall plus spring K rates on the three sites with soil-test K
levels of ⬍100 mg kg⫺1. For these same sites, ear-leaf K concentrations
averaged 1.2 g kg⫺1 higher in CT compared with NT or ZT. On four
of the five field sites, corn yields in the NT and ZT systems were
maximized by applying the high rate of starter K, even when no K
fertilizer was applied the previous fall. On long-term NT soils with
medium soil-test K, corn producers may derive most K fertility benefit
from shallow banding at planting.
T he lack of soil mixing for extended periods of time
(i.e., ⬎5 yr) associated with continuous no till (NT)
has resulted in stratification of relatively immobile nutri-
ents such as K (Ketcheson, 1980; MacKay et al., 1987).
Potassium stratification in longer term NT fields is a phe-
nomenon where the lack of soil mixing, coupled with
crop uptake of K from soil depths plus subsequent K
release from surface-placed plant residue, has resulted
in higher K concentrations in the surface 5 or 10 cm and
lower concentrations below 10 cm than that which would
have occurred if fields had been tilled conventionally.
Potassium stratification associated with NT is of con-
cern because adequate K nutrition for corn is not only
dependent on the available K concentrations in the bulk
soil, but also on the availability of K in soil volumes
where roots are actively growing during periods of rapid
uptake. Most K uptake occurs before pollination, and
uptake corresponds closely to corn vegetative growth.
For example, Hanway (1962) reported that 38% of the
total K uptake by corn for the whole growing season
occurred 38 to 52 d following planting. Any deficien-
cies in K availability in soil volumes that are actively
T.J. Vyn, Dep. of Agron., Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN 47907-
1150; and K.J. Janovicek, Dep. of Plant Agric., Univ. of Guelph,
Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1. Research supported by Ontario Corn
Producers’ Association; Potash and Phosphate Institute of Canada;
Pioneer Hi-Bred International; and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food, and Rural Affairs. Received 3 Jan. 2000. *Corresponding au-
thor (tvyn@purdue.edu).
Published in Agron. J. 93:487–495 (2001).
487
exploited by corn roots during the rapid dry matter
accumulation phase of corn growth before pollination
can result in inadequate K nutritional status and may
result in reduced yields (Heckman and Kamprath, 1992).
Potassium stratification may increase the likelihood of
inadequate K nutrition because K is concentrated close
to the surface where soil may be too dry for optimal
root function. During years with extended early season
dry periods, this can lead to low K concentrations in
corn tissue and loss of yield potential.
MacKay et al. (1987) suggested that placing K deeper
in the soil profile in stratified NT fields should minimize
the likelihood of inadequate K nutrition for corn. Ran-
dall and Hoeft (1988), after reviewing a number of K
placement studies for corn production, concluded that
significant corn yield increases can be obtained when a
given rate of K fertilizer is subsurface-banded rather than
surface-broadcast, especially on soils that have inade-
quate K fertility or during dry years. Subsequent K
fertility research for NT corn also has indicated a yield
advantage from banding K fertilizer using traditional
planter-band placement (i.e., 5 cm beside and 5 cm be-
low seeding depth), especially under conditions where
initial K fertility is low or surface soil moisture is de-
pleted because of either low rainfall or low residue levels
(Yibirin et al., 1993). In addition, deeper placement of K
(15 cm beneath the row) was reported to increase NT
corn yield, especially during years with less than normal
June rainfall (Bordoli and Mallarino, 1998). In ridge-
till systems, deep placement of K in the center of ridges
also has been reported to increase corn yields on fields
with a history of K deficiency (Rehm, 1995).
In environments where corn yields under NT are less
than those under conventional tillage (CT), modifying
the in-row seedbed characteristics of the NT system by
reducing the quantity of residue (Kaspar et al., 1990)
or strip-tilling zones 15 to 25 cm wide by 10 to 15 cm
deep (Vyn and Raimbault, 1992) can result in yields
similar to those obtained in the CT system. Opoku et
al. (1997) demonstrated that aggressive fall zone tillage
(ZT) on clay-textured soils following wheat (Triticum
aestivum L.) resulted in corn yields that were greater
than those in NT and similar to those in CT; corn yield
gains with ZT were correlated with reduced in-row resi-
due and improved seedbed soil physical properties rela-
tive to NT. Reduced corn yield potential associated with
NT following wheat also has been reported by other au-
thors (Lund et al., 1993; Schreiber, 1992). However, if K
stratification is limiting corn yields in the NT system, then
limitations may also occur in the ZT system because 70%
of the field area is not tilled and remains stratified. Little
Abbreviations: CT, conventional tillage; NT, no tillage; ZT, zone
tillage.
488 AGRONOMY JOURNAL, VOL. 93, MAY–JUNE 2001
information is available regarding the consistency of
corn yield response to ZT, especially in high-residue
environments (such as those following wheat) and when
soil K concentrations are stratified because of a NT
cropping history.
Uncertainty over the most appropriate K fertility and
tillage system combination to use for corn in fields with
a history of continuous no-till production and evidence
of soil K stratification prompted the present study. The
research objectives were: (i) to evaluate corn response
to fall K fertilizer rates in combinations of specific tillage
and K placement systems and (ii) to determine corn
response to starter-banded K fertilizer when alternate
tillage and fall-applied K treatments had been imposed
after long-term NT.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Field experiments evaluating corn response to method, tim-
ing, and rate of K application in conservation tillage systems
were conducted from 1995 to 1998 in southern Ontario near
Kirkton, Perth County and Belmont, Elgin County. Before
treatment initiation, the fields had been in continuous no till
for at least 6 yr. All field sites were systematically tile-drained.
The growing season is rated as receiving 2800 Ontario Crop
Heat Units at Kirkton and 2900 Ontario Crop Heat Units at
Belmont (Brown and Bootsma, 1993).
The soils were classified as a Listowel silt loam (medium,
mixed weakly to moderately calcareous Typic Hapludalf) at
Kirkton and a Toledo silt loam to silty clay loam (medium,
mixed weakly to moderately calcareous Typic Humaquept)
at Belmont. Description of soil textural properties (percentage
of sand, silt, clay, and organic C) and fertility (pH, available
P, soil-test K, and plant available Mg) are presented in Table 1.
The preceding year’s crop was soft white winter wheat, which
was grown using recommended production practices for Ontario
(OMAFRA, 1997). Wheat was harvested using commercial
harvesting equipment, and straw was baled leaving a standing
stubble height of 20 cm. Whenever necessary, glyphosate [iso-
propylamine salt of N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] was applied
at a rate of 1.1 kg a.i. ha⫺1 during early October (before tillage
operations) to control volunteer wheat or perennial weeds.
The experimental design was a randomized complete block
split-split plot with four replications. Tillage system was the
whole-plot treatment, fall K rate was the split-plot treatment,
and starter K rate was the split split-plot treatment. The split
split-plot dimensions were 21 m long by 3 m (4 corn rows) wide.
Fall K was applied as muriate of potash [KCl] (0–0–60) at
rates of 0, 42, and 84 kg K ha⫺1. Fall K was applied in a manner
that was specific to each of the tillage practices. Therefore,
the various tillage systems not only describe the nature of soil
disturbance, but also the method of fall K application. The
Table 1. Soil texture and initial fertility characteristics in the surface 15 cm at the Belmont and Kirkton experimental sites (1995–1998).
Belmont
Property 1996–1997 1997–1998
Texture class Silty clay loam Loam
Clay, g kg⫺1 289 157
Silt, g kg⫺1 539 500
Sand, g kg⫺1 172 342
Organic matter, g kg⫺1 37 30
pH 7.7 6.4
Soil-test K, mg kg⫺1 160 100
Available P, mg kg⫺1 10 6 12
Available Mg, mg kg⫺1 170 140
tillage systems, including the method of K application, are as
follows:
1. Conventional tillage (CT): Fall moldboard plowing (15
cm deep) with two spring passes with a field cultivator and
packer. Potassium was broadcast-applied just before
plowing.
2. Fall zone tillage (ZT): Fall tillage was restricted to strips
approximately 20 cm wide by 17 cm deep on 76-cm cen-
ters using a Trans-Till (Row-tech, Snover, MI). The
Trans-Till was modified to apply K in a band 15 cm deep
in the center of the ZT strip.
3. No tillage (NT): Fall-applied K was surface-broadcast.
Corn was planted to NT.
Corn was planted using a John Deere (Moline, IL) Model
7000 row crop planter in 1996 and 1997 and a John Deere
Model 1760 row crop planter in 1998. The corn planters were
equipped with unit-mounted tined row cleaners, a single 5-cm
fluted coulter positioned directly in front of the seed openers,
and a NT fertilizer coulter. The NT fertilizer coulter was posi-
tioned to deliver starter fertilizer in a band 5 cm beside and
below seeds. The same coulter arrangement was used for
planting corn in all three tillage systems.
Spring K was applied as part of a starter fertilizer blend in-
cluding urea [(NH2 )2CO] (46–0–0), monoammonium phos-
phate [NH4H2PO4] (11–52–0), and muriate of potash (0–0–60).
The low K application rate was either 8 (1996) or 0 (1997 and
1998) kg K ha⫺1. The high K application rate was either 50
(1996) or 42 (1997 and 1998) kg K ha⫺1. Each of the two
starter fertilizer formulations applied 30 and 13 kg ha⫺1 N and
P, respectively.
Approximately 10 d before corn planting, a glyphosate burn-
down was applied to the NT and ZT plots at a rate of 1.1 kg
a.i. ha⫺1. Corn (cv. Pioneer 3752) was planted in 76-cm wide
rows at a seeding rate of 74 000 seeds ha⫺1. The planting dates
were 30 May 1996, 30 May 1997, and 8 May 1998 at Kirkton
and 30 May 1997 and 8 May 1998 at Belmont.
Weed control consisted of a pre-emergence broadcast ap-
plication of cyanazine {2-[[4-chloro-6-(ethylamino)-1,3,5-tri-
azin-2-yl]amino]-2-methylpropionitrile} at 2.0 kg a.i. ha⫺1 and
metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-meth-
oxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] at 2.6 kg a.i. ha⫺1. Dicamba (3,
6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid) was applied postemer-
gence, whenever necessary, at a rate of 0.3 kg a.i. ha⫺1 to
control broadleaf weed escapes. Additional N was sidedress-
applied when corn was at the seven- to nine-leaf stage as urea
ammonium nitrate solution (28% N) at 150 kg N ha⫺1.
Soil-test K was determined in the fall before conducting
tillage or applying K fertilizer. The sampling of each split plot
consisted of a composite of at least 10 cores collected randomly
from three depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm). Samples were
thoroughly mixed, and soil-test K was extracted using ammo-
nium acetate [NH4(C2H3O2 )].
Corn ear-leaf K and aboveground biomass were measured
Kirkton
1995–1996 1996–1997 1997–1998
Silt loam Silt loam Silt loam
176 158 170
700 711 728
124 131 103
39 30 32
7.0 7.2 6.4
65 85 90
16 11
340 140 220
 VYN AND JANOVICEK: POTASSIUM PLACEMENT AND TILLAGE SYSTEM EFFECTS ON CORN 489

shortly after (within 7 d) of achieving 50% silking. Corn bio-
mass at silking was measured by harvesting 15 consecutive
plants from the center two rows; plants were dried in forced-
air ovens for at least 3 d at 80⬚C. Row length of the harvest
area was recorded and used to calculate total dry matter on
an area basis. Ear-leaf K concentration was determined by
removing the ear leaves from the same 15 plants used to estimate
silking dry matter. After drying, the ear leaves were ground to
pass through a 1.0 mm screen and digested in 1.0 M HCL for
determination of K concentration using atomic absorption.
Corn grain yields were determined by hand-harvesting two
adjacent 5-m lengths of the center two rows; yields were ad-
justed to a moisture content of 155 g kg⫺1. Plant population
at harvest and percent of lodged corn plants were estimated
from the same sampling area as that for grain yield. Because
covariate analysis indicated that corn yield responses to K
rate and placement were not affected by plant population
differences among treatments, all yield data presented are
actual yields (i.e., not adjusted for population).
Corn data were analyzed using an analysis of variance ap-
propriate for a randomized complete block split split-plot de-
sign. Significant effects of fall K rate were determined using
the appropriate linear and nonlinear (quadratic) contrasts. The
significance of spring K rate was determined using the appro-
priate t-tests. Differences among tillage systems were identified
using a protected LSD test at the 0.05 level of probability.
A regression model was developed to relate the yield re-
sponse associated with increasing starter K rate by 42 kg K
ha⫺1 with initial soil-test K within the various tillage systems
and depth increments sampled. Soil-test K for the 0- to 15-
cm depth was estimated by computing a weighted average for
soil-test K concentrations in the 0- to 10- and 10- to 20-cm
depth intervals where the 0- to 10-cm depth interval was
weighted two times higher than the 10- to 20-cm depth interval.
Yield response to starter K (at a fall K rate of 0 kg K ha⫺1 )
was regressed with the soil-test K concentrations on a subplot
basis. The yield response to starter K was the difference be-
tween corn grain yields of adjacent split split-plots receiving
the high and low rates, respectively, of starter K. The regres-
sion analysis was conducted using data combined over all five
site-years; this resulted in 20 data points for each tillage system.
The regression model was a quadratic curve, which became
a nonresponse (horizontal) line when the curve reached it’s
minimum; the model is described as follows:
Y ⫽ A ⫺ BX ⫹ CX2 for X ⬍ Xm
and
Y ⫽ A ⫺ BXm ⫹ CXm2 for X ⬎ Xm
where Y is the yield response to starter K, X is the soil-
test K concentration, and Xm is the minimum point of the
quadratic curve, which can be calculated using the following
formula:
Xm ⫽ ⫺b/2c
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Initial Soil Potassium Fertility
Four of the five sites in this study were classified as
having soil-test K concentrations in the medium range
(soil-test K in the surface 15 cm between 61 and 120
mg kg⫺1 ) (Table 1). The other site (Belmont, 1996–1997)
was classified as having high soil-test K concentrations
(160 mg kg⫺1 ).
Potassium stratification was evident at both the Bel-
mont and Kirkton sites during 1996–1997 and 1997–1998
with initial soil-test K in the surface 10 cm about 1.5 to
2.5 times higher than concentrations present at 20 to 30
cm (Table 2). However, the Kirkton 1995–1996 site had
relatively uniform soil-test K concentrations throughout
the 0- to 30-cm layer.
Soil-test K concentrations for each of the three depth
increments, which were measured on a subplot basis
(n ⫽ 36), were normally distributed at each site. The
coefficients of variation for soil-test K ranged from 10
to 26% (Table 2). Soil-test K concentration in the sur-
face 10-cm layer was positively correlated to concen-
trations deeper in the soil profile at four of the five
site-years (Table 2); thus, variations in soil-test K con-

Table 2. Soil-test K concentration and associated variability, and correlations of soil-test K across the various sampling depths at Belmont
and Kirkton (1995–1998).
Soil-test K
Belmont Kirkton
Depth increment
Statistic 1996–1997 1997–1998 1995–1996 1996–1997 1997–1998
mg kg⫺1
0 to 10 cm
Mean, mg kg⫺1 175.9 121.1 71.1 98.1 106.1
SD, mg kg⫺1† 32.0 22.1 8.8 16.7 28.1
CV, %‡ 18.2 18.2 12.4 17.0 26.5
10 to 20 cm
Mean, mg kg⫺1 136.2 63.3 61.1 63.8 52.6
SD, mg kg⫺1 30.5 12.5 6.7 9.4 8.3
CV, % 22.4 19.7 10.9 14.8 15.8
20 to 30 cm
Mean, mg kg⫺1 118.4 47.8 65.0 63.0 44.6
SD, mg kg⫺1 23.9 6.2 11.2 12.4 8.3
CV, % 20.2 13.0 17.3 19.6 18.6
Correlations 0 to 10 cm vs.
10 to 20 cm 0.87** 0.62** 0.64** 0.58** 0.55
20 to 30 cm 0.83** 0.39* 0.31 ⫺0.13 0.29
* Significant at the 0.05 level.
** Significant at the 0.01 level.
† Mean SD for n ⫽ 36.
‡ Mean CV for n ⫽ 36.
490 AGRONOMY JOURNAL, VOL. 93, MAY–JUNE 2001

Table 3. Mean squares from an analysis of variance combined over years for ear-leaf K concentration, biomass yield at silking, plant
population, and final grain yields at Belmont and Kirkton.
Belmont Kirkton
Biomass Grain Biomass Grain
Source df Ear-leaf K yield Population yield df Ear-leaf K yield Population yield
Error A 6 20.9 3.69 6.4 2.9 9 11.0 1.03 10.3 0.30
Tillage (T) 2 20.1† 12.77** 270.2** 1.04 2 41.3* 29.26*** 116.1** 6.08***
T ⫻ Yr 2 7.4 2.16 33.2 0.20 4 4.4 2.97** 23.0* 1.82*
Error B 12 7.1 1.55 18.2 1.48 18 9.9 0.34 7.8 0.42
Fall K (FK) 2 2.6 0.31 26.7† 0.14 2 97.1*** 0.10 6.2 1.12*
FK ⫻ Yr 2 0.1 0.52 5.7 0.13 4 1.2 0.35 2.9 0.25
T ⫻ FK 4 1.6 0.68 13.7 0.75 4 2.4 0.31 6.6 0.24
T ⫻ FK ⫻ Yr 4 2.9 0.23 18.8 1.10 8 2.7 0.22 6.1 0.19
Error C 36 2.8 0.58 11.1 0.62 54 1.9 0.32 11.0 0.24
Spring K (SK) 1 15.1** 0.05 0.2 1.20* 1 201.4*** 3.17** 9.3 7.14***
T ⫻ SK 2 3.7 0.04 37.8* 0.73† 2 2.9* 0.16 0.3 0.25
FK ⫻ SK 2 0.1 0.12 6.7 0.49 2 3.0* 0.03 4.5 0.33†
FK ⫻ SK ⫻ Yr 2 0.8 0.01 1.7 0.05 4 3.3** 0.24 9.5 0.20
T ⫻ FK ⫻ SK 4 1.6 0.13 9.0 0.11 4 0.5 0.63† 16.7 0.34*
T ⫻ FK ⫻ SK ⫻ Yr 4 1.2 0.57 22.2* 0.22 8 0.6 0.33 17.2 0.20
Error D 54 2.1 0.50 9.0 0.28 81 0.9 0.30 10.9 0.12
* Significant at the 0.05 level.
** Significant at the 0.01 level.
*** Significant at the 0.001 level.
† Significant at the 0.10 level.

centrations in the surface 10 cm were associated with The high starter rate consistently increased ear-leaf
similar variations deeper in the soil profile. K concentrations at Kirkton, regardless of the tillage
system or fall K rate (Table 4). Increases in ear-leaf K
Midseason Corn Potassium Nutrition with high starter averaged ⬎3 g kg⫺1 during 1998 but
Because the method of fall K application was different ⬍2 g kg⫺1 during 1996 and 1997. Similarly, increasing
for each tillage system, corn plant responses (such as the fall K rate from 0 to 84 kg ha⫺1 resulted in linear
ear-leaf K, midseason biomass, and yield) to tillage may increases in ear-leaf K concentrations at Kirkton, re-
not only be due to the degree of soil loosening associated gardless of the spring K rate, tillage system, or year.
with tillage, but also may be the result of K fertilizer The fall K ⫻ spring K and fall K ⫻ spring K ⫻ year
placement in fall. Therefore, interpretation and discus- interactions were primarily due to larger increases in
sion of corn responses to tillage systems in the present ear-leaf K concentrations with the higher spring K rate
study is not attributed solely to soil loosening associated during 1998, especially when fall K had not been applied.
with tillage, but rather to the combined effects of soil Ear-leaf K concentrations at Belmont were signifi-
loosening and K placement (whenever tillage compari- cantly affected by spring K rate but not by fall K rate
sons are based on those treatments where fall K was (Table 3). The high starter rate raised ear-leaf K concen-
applied). trations by an average of 0.8 g kg⫺1 in 1997 (Table 5).
Analysis of variance indicated that the majority of Ear-leaf K concentrations at Kirkton were higher in
the variation in ear-leaf K concentrations observed at the CT system compared with either the ZT or NT
Kirkton could be explained by the main effects of tillage
system, fall K rate, and spring K rate (Table 3). When Table 5. Tillage and K application effects on ear-leaf K concentra-
interactions with year occurred (i.e., spring K ⫻ year tions, dry matter at silking, plant population, and final grain
and fall K ⫻ spring K ⫻ year), the cause was mainly yield at Belmont for 1997 and 1998.
due to differences in the magnitude of the increase in Tillage/fertility Dry matter Population
ear-leaf K attributed to the higher spring K rate among treatment Ear-leaf K at silking at harvest Grain yield
years (Table 4). g kg⫺1 Mg ha⫺1 1000 plants ha⫺1 Mg ha⫺1
Tillage†
Table 4. Effects of fall- and spring-applied K on ear-leaf K con- NT 17.1a‡ 7.09b 66.2b 11.09a
centrations at Kirkton. ZT 16.9a 7.03b 69.8a 11.29a
CT 18.1a 7.95a 70.7a 11.38a
Starter K rate
Fall K
1996 1997 1998 0 kg ha⫺1 17.2 7.31 69.7 11.27
42 kg ha⫺1 17.3 7.31 68.2 11.19
Fall K rate Low High Low High Low High 84 kg ha⫺1 17.6 7.45 68.9 11.30
Contrasts
kg ha⫺1 Ear-leaf K, g kg⫺1 Linear NS NS NS NS
0 12.3† ** 13.9 10.1 ** 12.0 10.4 ** 14.1 Nonlinear NS NS NS NS
42 13.6 ** 15.0 12.1 ** 13.0 12.2 ** 15.4 Spring K 1997
84 14.4 ** 15.5 12.4 ** 14.5 14.1 ** 15.7 Low 18.0b 7.75a 61.1a 9.63a
Contrasts High 19.2a 7.67a 61.2a 9.62a
Linear ** ** ** ** ** ** Spring K 1998
Nonlinear NS‡ NS NS NS NS NS Low 16.0a 6.93a 76.8a 12.70b
High 16.2a 7.08a 76.6a 13.07a
** Significant at the 0.01 level.
† Means separated by * and ** are different at P ⫽ 0.05 and P ⫽ 0.01, re- † NT, no till; ZT, zone till; CT, conventional till.
spectively. ‡ Within column tillage or spring K by year means followed by the same
‡ NS, not significant. letter are not different according to a protected LSD test at P ⫽ 0.05.
 VYN AND JANOVICEK: POTASSIUM PLACEMENT AND TILLAGE SYSTEM EFFECTS ON CORN 491

Table 6. Tillage and spring K rate effects on ear-leaf K concentra- Table 7. Effects of tillage and spring K rate on aboveground corn
tions at Kirkton from 1996–1998. biomass (determined within 1 wk of silking) and grain yields
at Kirkton.
Spring K rate
Spring K rate
Tillage† Low High
1996 1997 1998
K conc., g kg⫺1
NT 11.8b‡ ** 13.9b Tillage† Low High Low High Low High
ZT 11.9b ** 14.1b
CT 13.5a ** 15.0a Biomass, Mg ha⫺1
NT 6.71b‡ 6.91b 7.72a 7.64ab 5.19b 5.48a
** Means separated by this symbol are different at P ⫽ 0.01. ZT 7.28a 7.29b 6.91b 7.16b 4.66c * 5.28b
† NT, no till; ZT, zone till; CT, conventional till. CT 7.61a ** 8.57a 8.11a 8.17a 6.68a 6.54a
‡ Within-column means followed by the same letter are not different
Yield, Mg ha⫺1
according to a protected LSD test at P ⫽ 0.05.
NT 8.91a† ** 9.31a 7.71a * 7.98a 12.18b ** 12.99a
ZT 9.21a 9.26a 7.52a 7.76a 11.75b ** 12.47b
systems (Table 6). Average concentration increases as- CT 9.04a * 9.43a 8.10a * 8.41a 13.16a 13.20a
sociated with CT were 1.6 g kg⫺1 at the low starter rate * Significant at the 0.05 level.
and 1.0 g kg⫺1 at the high starter rate. The tillage ⫻ ** Significant at the 0.01 level.
spring K interaction was significant at Kirkton (Table 3), † NT, no till; ZT, zone till; CT, conventional till.
‡ Within-column tillage means followed by the same letter are not different
primarily due to greater increases in ear-leaf K concen- according to a protected LSD test at P ⫽ 0.05.
tration associated with the higher spring K rate in the
NT and ZT systems than for CT corn. At Belmont, ear-
ZT system was not consistently greater than accumula-
leaf K concentrations were also about 1.0 g kg⫺1 higher
tion in the NT system at either site. Corn biomass advan-
with CT than with NT or ZT (Table 5), but the differ-
tages before grain filling with CT, relative to NT, after
ences were significant only at P ⫽ 0.10.
winter wheat have also been observed by Opoku et al.
Previous research has demonstrated that K uptake by
(1997). In this study, the relative gains in corn biomass
relatively young corn plants can be increased by either
associated with ZT was observed to be dependent on
deep- or shallow-banded K in NT fields (Mallarino et
levels of wheat residue cover; ZT corn was less likely
al., 1999). The latter occurred even in high soil-test K
to be higher than NT corn when surface residue cover de-
fields, which was also observed in our studies (Belmont,
creased.
1997) for shallow banding although not for deep banding.
Biomass accumulated by silking was weakly corre-
The higher ear-leaf K concentrations when K fertil-
lated with ear-leaf K concentrations at Kirkton in 1997
izer was applied at Kirkton (Tables 4 and 6) suggests
(r ⫽ 0.38, P ⫽ 0.0008, and n ⫽ 72) and at Kirkton in
K availability was limiting at this site. Ear-leaf K concen-
1998 (r ⫽ 0.24, P ⫽ 0.05, and n ⫽ 72). These correlations
trations, especially where no K fertilizer was applied,
suggest an association between higher K nutrition levels
were often ⬍12 g kg⫺1, and therefore, below the critical
(as indicated by ear-leaf K concentrations) and the
level in Ontario (OMAFRA, 1997). At Belmont, corn
quantity of biomass accumulated by silking at Kirkton
ear-leaf concentrations responded less to K fertilization,
in 1997 and 1998. However, significant correlations could
and concentrations with no K fertilizer exceeded 16 g
not be identified at the other three sites.
kg⫺1; K fertility was less limiting for corn at Belmont
than at Kirkton.
End-of-Season Populations and Grain Yields
Midseason Corn Growth Harvest corn plant populations at Belmont and Kirk-
Fall K application did not significantly affect the ton were significantly affected by tillage but not by K
quantity of aboveground biomass accumulated by silk- treatments (Table 3). The tillage effect at Kirkton was
ing in each of the tillage systems at either site (Table 3). predominantly due to lower NT populations during 1996
However, the high starter rate increased corn biomass at when populations were 67 700 plants ha⫺1 in NT and
Kirkton by 13% in the CT system in 1996 and the ZT more than 71 200 plants ha⫺1 in ZT and CT systems
system in 1998 (Table 7). (data not presented). Population differences at Kirkton
Corn biomass response to tillage systems varied with during other years were fewer than 1500 plants ha⫺1.
location, year, and K treatments. At Belmont, biomass Tillage effects on harvest population at Belmont (Table 5)
accumulated in either the NT or ZT systems averaged were similar to those at Kirkton in 1996. Although the
about 88% of that accumulated in the CT system and tillage ⫻ spring K interaction was significant at Belmont,
was not significantly affected by K treatments (Table 5). plant population differences between spring K rates did
At Kirkton, the magnitude of the corn biomass response not differ by more than 2000 plants ha⫺1. Percent of
to tillage system was affected by spring K rate and year lodged plants at harvest were not affected by K treat-
(Table 3); however, biomass accumulation in the CT ments at either site (data not shown).
system was consistently the highest regardless of the Potassium fertilization was associated with higher
spring K rate and year (Table 7). Corn biomass accumu- corn grain yields only on fields that had soil-test K
lated in the ZT system varied, depending on the year concentrations ⬍120 mg kg⫺1 (Tables 5, 7, and 8). On the
and spring K rate, from 70 to 95% of the accumulation one site with high soil-test K concentrations (Belmont,
in the CT system. Similarly, accumulation in the NT 1996–1997), K fertilization did not increase corn yields
system ranged from 77 to 95% of the accumulation in (Table 5).
the CT system. Biomass accumulation by silking in the At Belmont, corn yield response to K fertilization
492 AGRONOMY JOURNAL, VOL. 93, MAY–JUNE 2001

Table 8. Fall- and spring-applied K fertilizer effects on grain corn K (Table 8). Grain yield response to fall K application
yields for three tillage systems at Kirkton (avg. over 1996–1998). was affected by both tillage system and spring K rate
Tillage and spring K rate† (Table 3). When spring K was not applied, a small (0.3
NT ZT CT Mg ha⫺1 ) linear response to increasing fall K rate from
0 to 84 kg K ha⫺1 occurred in the ZT (P ⫽ 0.10) and
Fall K Low High Low High Low High
CT (P ⫽ 0.05) systems. Fall-applied K also increased NT
Kg ha⫺1 Yield, Mg ha⫺1 corn yields when the low rate of spring K was applied;
0 9.26‡ ** 10.13 9.36 ** 9.84 9.94 10.15 however, the yield response was maximized at the inter-
42 9.84 10.02 9.49 ** 9.90 10.10 10.28
84 9.70 ** 10.13 9.63 9.75 10.26 ** 10.67 mediate rate of fall K.
Contrasts Although deep-banding 84 kg K ha⫺1 in ZT increased
Linear
Nonlinear
*
*
ns
ns
§
ns
ns
ns
*
ns
**
ns
corn yields by 0.3 Mg ha⫺1, the yield increases associated
with deep-banding K in the present study probably were
* Significant at the 0.05 level. not great enough to recover application costs. Bordoli
** Significant at the 0.01 level. Means separated by this symbol are signifi-
cantly different at P ⫽ 0.01. and Mallarino (1998) reported similar conclusions with
† NT, no till; ZT, zone till; CT, conventional till. regard to yield response and economics for deep-band-
‡ Tillage yields, within the same fall and spring K application treatment,
greater than 0.37 Mg ha⫺1 are statistically different according to a LSD ing K for NT corn in Iowa.
test at P ⫽ 0.05. When the higher rate of spring K was applied, CT
§ Significant at the 0.10 level. corn yields also increased (0.5 Mg ha⫺1 ) linearly with
increasing fall K rate (Table 8). However, increasing
occurred only in 1998 where the higher spring K rate the fall K rate did not affect corn yields in the ZT and
increased yield (Table 5). Fall K rate did not affect grain NT systems at the high starter rate. In fact, applying 42
corn yields at Belmont in either 1997 or 1998. or 50 kg K ha⫺1 as part of the starter blend maximized
At Kirkton, tillage system, fall K rate, and spring NT and ZT yields. In contrast, the highest CT yield was
K rate all had significant effects on corn grain yields produced (response of 0.7 Mg ha⫺1 over where no K
(Table 3). However, yield responses to tillage system was applied) when both highest fall and spring K rates
and spring K application were not consistent over years; were applied.
interactions of tillage ⫻ year and tillage ⫻ spring K ⫻ At Kirkton, ear-leaf K concentrations at silking were
year were significant. The latter interaction was pre- positively correlated with grain yield (r ⫽ 0.41, P ⫽
dominantly due to: (i) greater yield increases with spring 0.0004, and n ⫽ 72 in 1996; r ⫽ 0.62, P ⫽ 0.0001, and
K application in the NT and ZT systems in 1998 com- n ⫽ 72 in 1997; and r ⫽ 0.39, P ⫽ 0.0008, and n ⫽
pared with either 1996 or 1997 and (ii) relatively small 72 in 1998). These significant correlations suggest that
yield responses to spring K in the CT system, especially inadequate K nutrition was potentially limiting corn
in 1998 (Table 7). When yield responses to spring K grain yields at Kirkton. Similar correlations did not oc-
were significant, the higher spring K rate resulted in cur at Belmont.
higher corn yields. However, significant yield responses The lack of significant yield increases in the NT and
to starter K did not occur each year in either the ZT or ZT systems with the highest K application rates (84 ⫹
CT systems; this factor also contributed to the significant 42 kg K ha⫺1 in fall and spring, respectively) relative to
tillage ⫻ spring K ⫻ year interaction. high starter K alone (Tables 5 and 8), suggest that the
Tillage system and spring K effects on grain yield higher K rates in these systems were not yield limiting.
response at Kirkton, which were consistent over years, However, significant yield increases with the highest K
included observations that: (i) significant yield increases application rate occurred in the CT system at Kirkton,
occurred when the high spring K rate was applied in and thus no conclusions can be made concerning corn
the NT system (Table 8) and (ii) yields in ZT were never
greater than those obtained in the NT and CT systems.
When soil-test K concentrations were ⬍100 mg kg⫺1
(Kirkton sites), fall-applied K also increased NT and
ZT yields but not to the same extent as spring-applied

Table 9. Coefficients of determination (R 2 ) for regression of yield

response to starter K (where fall K had not been applied)
regressed on initial soil-test K concentrations within each till-
age system.
Tillage†
Depth NT ZT CT
2
cm R
0–10 0.48* 0.01 0.05
10–20 0.45* 0.10 0.00
0–15 0.52* 0.01 0.00
0–20 0.53* 0.00 0.00
20–30 0.00 0.17 0.09
* Significant at the 0.05 level. Fig. 1. Relationship between soil-test K in surface 15 cm and NT corn
† NT, no till; ZT, zone till; CT, conventional till. yield response to applying 42 kg K ha⫺1 in a starter band at planting.
 VYN AND JANOVICEK: POTASSIUM PLACEMENT AND TILLAGE SYSTEM EFFECTS ON CORN 493

response to even higher rates of fall K in the CT system
for that soil.
In the NT system with zero fall K, the magnitude of
the yield increase associated with applying the higher
spring K rate was inversely related to the initial soil-
test K concentration in the surface 20 cm. A regression
model consisting of a quadratic curve (which becomes
a horizontal line at its minimal point) explained approxi-
mately 50% of the variability in the size of the NT yield
increase associated with starter K (Table 9). The NT
yield response curves to starter K reach their minimal
value within 0.10 Mg ha⫺1 of zero. For the standard soil
fertility sampling depth (surface 15 cm), the minimal
starter K yield response occurs at a soil-test K level of
160 mg kg⫺1, and the break-even concentration occurs
at 112 mg kg⫺1 (Fig. 1). The break-even concentration
is defined as the point on the quadratic curve where the
yield response was 0.2 Mg ha⫺1 (an assumed minimum
yield response where the value of the corn grain is equiv-
alent to the cost of applying 42 kg K ha⫺1 as part of the
starter fertilizer blend). Similar relationships could not
be identified for the ZT and CT systems or for NT

Fig. 2. Summary of May through September weekly mean and normal air temperature and precipitation during corn production years at Belmont
and Kirkton. Dates represent the middle of each week.
494 AGRONOMY JOURNAL, VOL. 93, MAY–JUNE 2001
when yield response was regressed against the soil-test
K concentrations below 20 cm.
The relatively strong relationship between the size
of yield response to starter K and initial soil-test K
concentrations in the surface 10 cm (Table 9) suggest
that, at least for the environmental conditions prevalent
in this study, soil K positioned close to the surface is
readily available for corn uptake in NT systems. Corn
roots have been observed to have a more horizontal
orientation and occur in greater densities close to the
soil surface in NT compared with CT systems (Ball-
Coelho et al., 1998), which may in part explain the ap-
parent availability of near-surface soil K and shallow-
banded fertilizer K that was observed in the NT system.
Also, the presence of relatively high amounts of mulch
in NT systems has been observed to promote greater
root proliferation close to the surface, thus enhancing
availability of near-surface placed K in NT systems (Yi-
birin et al., 1993). The relatively uniform mulch layer
associated with NT following wheat stubble also may
have contributed to the apparent availability of near-
surface placed K in NT systems in the present study.
Four of the five sites received significant rainfall dur-
ing the 4-wk period before silking (Fig. 2), which coin-
cides with the onset of the rapid growth phase and
period of maximum K uptake. This 4-wk period oc-
curred at both sites from 13 July to 3 August in 1996
and 1997 and between 22 June and 13 July in 1998. The
rainfall received during the 4-wk period increased the
liklihood of favorable surface soil conditions for root
function and K uptake. The latter, plus the possibility
that root density is greater near the surface in NT sys-
tems, may have enhanced availability of near-surface
placed K in NT systems in the present study. It is inter-
esting to note that the Kirkton site in 1997 was relatively
dry during the 4-wk period before silking and had ear-
leaf K concentrations (Table 4) and yield response to
spring K (Table 7) that were among the lowest of the
five sites in the present study. The Kirkton site in 1997
started to receive normal levels (Canada Atmos. Envi-
ron. Serv., 1993) of precipitation after silking.
Yield Response to Tillage System
At Kirkton, tillage system effects on yields were the
smallest during 1996 and largest during 1998 (Table 7).
For example, yields in the ZT and CT systems did not
differ by more than 0.2 Mg ha⫺1 (2%) during 1996; yields
in the ZT system were 0.6 Mg ha⫺1 (7%) lower than
CT in 1997, and yields in the ZT system were 0.73 to
1.41 Mg ha⫺1 (6 to 11%) lower than CT during 1998.
The largest yield difference between the NT and CT
systems also occurred in 1998, especially with no starter
K where NT yields were 0.98 Mg ha⫺1 less than CT.
However, when starter K was applied, NT yield in 1998
was only 0.21 Mg ha⫺1 less than CT (statistically not
different). Tillage systems did not significantly affect
yields at Belmont in either year (Table 5).
When yields were combined over years at Kirkton,
interpretation of corn yield response to tillage was com-
plicated by the interactions with K treatments. When
K was not applied, NT yields were 7% less than those
obtained in the CT system while ZT yields were 6%
less (Table 8). However, adding 42 kg K ha⫺1 as part
of the starter blend as the only source of K fertilizer
increased NT and ZT yields such that all three systems
produced statistically similar yields. Even so, substantial
yield differences among tillage systems did occur at the
highest rates of K application (84 kg K ha⫺1 in fall ⫹
high K starter) where CT corn yields were 5% greater
than NT corn yields and 9% greater than those of ZT.
The latter suggested that corn in CT systems (or perhaps
just corn grown in the 1st yr of plowing after a period
of continuous NT) may continue to yield higher than
NT corn on similar silt loam soils when K is not limiting.
It also suggests, under the soil fertility and environmen-
tal conditions prevalent in this study, that deep-banding K
in conjunction with fall ZT will not necessarily produce
yields greater than NT when K is either surface-broad-
cast or when ⬎40 kg K ha⫺1 was applied as part of the
starter fertilizer blend.
On sites with medium soil-test K, CT was often associ-
ated with both higher ear-leaf K concentrations (Table 6)
and higher yield (Table 8) than NT with 0 K or at the
maximum fall-plus-spring K rate applied. This suggests
that moldboard plowing of long-term NT fields may
improve K uptake by corn when fields are below the
critical K levels, regardless of the degree of stratification
in soil-test K. The apparent limitation on K uptake in
NT corn produced in the season immediately following
K fertilizer application could not be overcome solely by
increasing the rate of K fertilizer.
CONCLUSIONS
On long-term NT fields with soil-test K concentra-
tions ⬍120 mg kg⫺1, the addition of K in the N-plus-P
starter band maximized (with respect to K fertilization)
corn grain yields in both NT and ZT systems. Moldboard
plowing long-term NT fields consistently resulted in
higher corn biomass and ear-leaf K concentrations at
silking but no grain yield increases relative to NT corn
with the high rate of starter K, except at the highest fall
K rate. Corn yield increases associated with the addition
of 42 kg K ha⫺1 to starter fertilizer averaged 0.78 and
0.54 Mg ha⫺1 in NT and ZT, respectively, when no K
was broadcast or deep-banded before planting. No fur-
ther corn yield increases resulted when up to 84 kg K
ha⫺1 was either fall broadcast in the NT system or fall
deep-banded in the ZT system. Both NT and ZT corn
producers may benefit from adding K as part of their
starter fertilizer blend when they plant corn on long-
term NT fields with medium soil-test K levels.
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Dep. of Plant Sci., Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T
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N by leaching not only increases the environmental haz-
ard, but it reduces N available for assimilation by crops.
The movement of NO3–N through a soil profile is
directly linked to the movement of water through the
soil profile (Nielsen et al., 1982). Preferential flow of
soil water down structural pathways in the soil profile
can also be responsible for the rapid movement of ap-
plied N fertilizers (Coles and Trudgill, 1985). Although
NO3–N movement is primarily downward, Boswell and
Anderson (1964) indicated that upward movement of
NO3–N might also occur when evaporation exceeds pre-
cipitation. Leaching of NO3–N is often greatest in wet
climates and irrigated cropping systems under intensive
crop management where a significant proportion of wa-
ter moves downward through the soil profile (Catch-
poole, 1986). However, Campbell et al. (1984) stated
that in spite of a net annual water deficit, NO3–N leach-
ing beyond the root zone of annual crops occurs more
readily than previously suspected under dry, subhumid
cropping conditions such as those found in the prairie
provinces of western Canada. Jung et al. (1989) noted
that NO3–N leaching occurred mainly during periods of
winter fallow or after incorporation of perennial legume
residues into the soil.
The amount of NO3–N in the soil profile has been
shown to vary considerably with the type of cropping
system (Papendick et al., 1987; Weed and Kanwar,
1996). Diversified cropping systems tend to result in less
NO3–N leaching and lower subsoil NO3–N concentra-
tions than monoculture grain crops. For example, Varvel
and Peterson (1990) found that rotating continuous corn
(Zea mays L.) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor
L.) with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] or clover
Abbreviations: AA-WWWW, wheat following 2 yr of alfalfa; AAAA-
WW, wheat following 4 yr of alfalfa.